2018 Cup Chronicle

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 9

The tradition of no repeat winners in the Sinquefield Cup ended in the most unexpected fashion. At the end of the day, there were three winners!

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 8

After another peaceful day in Saint Louis, American Fabiano Caruana remains half a point ahead of the field. He is still being chased by a pack of players, including World Champion Magnus Carlsen.

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 7

A large crowd gathered at the Saint Louis Chess Club to watch the encounter between the World Champion and his challenger. The face off attracted so much attention that only media was allowed in the playing hall for the first 15 minutes of the game, while the fans patiently waited their turn.

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 5

There were no changes in the standings after a peaceful day in Saint Louis. For the first time in the tournament, all the games ended in draws but it wasn’t for the lack of trying.

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 4

Magnus Carlsen’s prediction of four draws and one long decisive game came true. While the leaders drew quickly, Fabiano Caruana’s win over his countryman Hikaru Nakamura allowed him to join the pack.

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 3

The fight for first place and the ticket to the Grand Chess Tour finals in London is getting tighter as now there is a four-way tie for first place. After Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Magnus Carlsen, and Levon Aronian drew their games, the door was wide open for Alexander Grischuk to enter the leaderboard.

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 2

At the end of a marathon 88-move game, Magnus Carlsen emerged as the only victor of the round, joining Mamedyarov and Aronian in a tie for first place. Four out of the five games ended in draws within the first three hours of the day, but the World Champion was determined to put his white pieces to good use.

2018 Cup Chronicle Issue 1

Day one of the 2018 Sinquefield Cup produced two early leaders: Levon Aronian and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. While Aronian is no stranger to success in Saint Louis, having won the Sinquefield Cup in 2015 and the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz in 2017, Mamedyarov is making his debut as an official player in the Grand Chess Tour.